Upright edge bag support



Oct. 6, 1959 B. STAHMER 2,907,538

UPRIGHT EDGE BAG SUPPORT Original Filed Nov. 23, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BERN/ /ARDT STAHMER AGENZ Oct. 6, 1959 B. STAHMER UPRIGHT EDGE BAG SUPPORT Original Filed Nov. 23 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR. BERNHA RD T 574 HMER wig/My S a Patent 2,907,533 U RIGHT" EDGE BAG SUPPORT Bernhardt Stahmer, Omaha, Nebr.

Continuation of application Serial No. 257,791, Novemher 23, 1951. This application July 26, 1956, Serial 6 Claims. (cram-s7) This invention relates to holders for containers and more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a holder for flexible bags.

Flexible bags make an exceptionally economical container for many liquids and semi-liquids Such bags have a disadvantage, however, in thatthey are not convenient to handle.

Therefore objects of the invention are to provide a bag holder having sufficient rigidity for convenient pouring out of the contents; of stability for restingfupright on a flat surfaceand of a construction for easy insertion and removal of a bag. p

further object is top'rovide a bagholder as'described having means for squeezing the contents of the bag outwardly through an opening in the bag.

I am aware that there have been bag holders of types designed to hold open top bags in positions for receiving 1 material, with the holders designed to hold the tops of the bags open. The essence of my invention, in contrast, is in the supporting of a substantially closed flexible bag at one side thereof and at two substantially vertically spaced apart points and a further objective is to in addition support the bag on its opposite side at at least one point and preferably at two substantially spaced apart points. i

A further object is to attain the above bymeans of clamping mechanism movable horizontally toward and away from the side edges of the bag to pinch clamp the edges.

Yet a further object is to provide a holder adapted to pinch clamp side edges of a bag over wide areas so as to insure against tearing of the bag.

Thisapplication 1s a continuation of the applicants co-pending patent application Serial No. 257,791, filed November 23, 1951, now abandoned.

Other and further objects and advantages ofthe prescut invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings .are only for the purpose of illustrating a way. in which the principles of this invention can be applied. p 1 t Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawins:

Fig. 1-is a side elevation of the bag holder of this inventionshown with a plastic bag mounted therein. A

corner of the bag is cut away to provide an opening;

Fig., 3 is a view-in-section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1; t

Fig. 4 is a top plan view looking down from the top of Fig. 1, the bag being shown in dotted lines; and

Figure 5, is a view similar to Figure 3 but on an en- 2,907,538 Patented Oct. 6, 1959 larged scale showing the clamping member in the bag disengaging position. V

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, an elongated rectangllarly shaped base member 10 is provided; The base member ltl'has downwardly and outwardly inclined sides.

A handle which is generally shown at 12 is disposed above and on the longitudinal center of the rearward end of'the upper surface of the base member 10. The handle 12 isprovided with an enlarged top 14 and finger recesses 16 to insure a firm non-slipping grip I The handle 12 is rigidly secured to the upper surface of the base member 10 by means of screws 18. An upwardly extending, preferably vertical member or standard 20 is disposed above and on the longitudinal center of the uppersurface of the base member .10 adjacent the handle 12.

The standard is secured to the upper surface of the base 10 by a screw 22 which latter extends upward through the base 10 and into the lower portion of the standard Another upwardly extending, preferably vertical, standard 24 is provided and is disposed above the forward end of the upper surface of the base member 10 in longitudinal alignment with the standard 20. The standard 24 is secured to the upper surface of the base member lit in the same manner as is the standard 20. Both the forward and rearward standards are provided with knurled surfaces for a purpose later described. p

p A plastic bag 26 is disposed between the standards 20 and 24 and is held in an uprightposition by means now to be described.

The standards 20 and 24 are provided with longitudinal slots '30 which latter are disposed in the forward side of the rearward standard 20 and in the rearward side of the forward standard 24 respectively. v

Aclamping member 32 is slidably disposed within the slots 30, and can be referred to as a pinch clamp having an elongated shape extending vertically and having flat side portions so as to provide vertically elongated clasping areas as laterexplained.

Referring to Figure 3, the clamping member 32 is shown inthe engaging position holding a fiat upright side portion or flap 34 of the plastic bag 26 between the clamping member 32 and the side of the slot .30.

Concave hemispherical recesses. 36 having rounded lower edges 38 are provided in spaced apart positions along the length of one side of the clamping member 32.

,of a pin 46 which latter is secured to the sides of the cam lever 44. p

The cam lever 44 is further provided with a lever handle 52 for rotating the lever 44 to move the clamping member 32 upward or downward.

When the clamping member 32' is to be disengaged, the lever handle 52 is. pulled upward, thereby permitting the clasping member 32 to be moved downward by pushing downwardly onthe lever 44 while the lever handle 52 is held in a horizontal position. When the recesses 36 are in alignment with the balls 42 the concave recesses 36 move to a position over the balls 42, thereby leaving a space betweenthe clamping member 32 and the side 1 of the slot 30 for releasing the flat side portion 34 ofthe plastic bag 26.

When downwardpressure is applied to the cam lever handle 52 the clamping member, 32 is forced upward. 'The lower inclined surfaceof the concave hemispherical recesses36 is'forcedaway'from the balls 42 and the shorterin length than the rearward standard 20.

3 clamping member 32 assumes the position shown in Figure 3.

The slot, clamping member and associated parts in the forward standard 24 are arranged in the same manher and are giventhe same numerals as have been described for the standard 20.

The cam lever 56 of the forward standard 24, however, has a concave upper side 60 which is used as a pouring lip;

As best seen in Figure l, the forward standard 24 is When the plastic bag 26 is placed in its upright position between the-standards the pouring lip 60 is in a position just below the upper left hand corner of the bag 26.

The plastic bag is opened by cutting the upper left hand corner on 'a bias 61 whereby the contents of the bag can be forced upward and outward over the pouri'n'g lip 60 by means now to be described.

Squeezer bars 62, having outwardly turned upper and lower edges, are longitudinally disposed on each of the sides of the lower portion of the plastic bag 26.

The ends of the squeezer bars 62 are secured to frame members '64 which latter are disposed about the standards 20 and 24.

The frame members 64 have outwardly extending loops 66 which latter are provided with longitudinally aligned apertures for the receipt of shafts 70.

Longitudinally apertured rollers 72, preferably formed of rubber or the like, are disposed between the sides of the outwardly extending loops 66 of the frame members 64.

The rollers 72 are so disposed as to come in close "contact with'the knurled surfaces of the standards 20 and 24.

The longitudinally disposed shafts 70 extend forwardly through the longitudinally aligned apertures in the outwardly extending loops 66 and through the apertures in the rollers 72. The rollers 72 are suitably fixed to the shafts 70 for rotation with the shafts.

Control knobs 80 are disposed on the rearward ends of the shafts 70. The control knobs 80 are preferably of rubber or the like for good frictional engagement and are so disposed that their inner surfaces touch. When one roller is turned the other is caused to turn by frictional contact. 7

As thus described, when the control knobs are turned the shafts are caused to rotate which in turn rotate the rollers 7Z'which latter. climb the knurled surface of the standards. The squeezer bars '62 slide upwardly along the outer surface of the plastic bag 26 forcing the contents of the bag through the opening 61 and 'over the upper surface of the pouring lip 60.

The member 20hr equivalent is an upwardly extending member and the parts 32, 42 etc. or parts of equivalentfunctionserve as a'me'ans for releasably engaging and holding the bag. .The bag need not be held all along its flat vertical edge but need onl'y be held at "two normally vertically spaced points and can be free and unheld between these points with the area between these points free of obstruction sufficiently to permit'occupttion of the area between the two points by the flat side portion of the'bag. 'The two points can be the upper andlower corners of the sealed flap "or edge 34.

This invention has provided a holder for a flexible bag which holds the bag upright for the pouring of the contents and further makes it possible to forcibly squeeze the contents of the bag outwardly thereof. The holder I of this invention particularly provides a flexible 'bag 'with rigidity whereby it can be conveniently handled for pouring. I

A's thus desc'ribedit will beseen that the bag is supported on one side at two points spaced apart a substantial vertical distance and is'sup'ported 'o'n its other side at at least one point, this being the essence of the invention for good snpportjal'though th'e bag can be held only by the'standard 20 and only'on one side, the importance of the standard 24 being to prevent the corre-' sponding side of the bag from sagging; The member 32 and lever mechanism 44 and balls 42 all serve to provide a mechanism making possible pinch clamping through horizontal motion of the member 32.

It will be seen that the standard 20 or the standard 24 can either one, be referred to also as bag-engaging members 20 and 24. These members have very substantially elongated bag-engaging areas disposed opposite the respective clamping members 32, The clamping members 32 also serve as a part of releasable pinching means together with the balls 42, lever 44 and associated parts. r i

In this sense those portions ,of the standards 20 and 24 which are disposed between the base 10 and the bagengaging areas of the standards 20 and 24 can each be referred to as means for attaching the base to the bagengaging members 20 and 24. l

The bag is thus pinched over wide areas for support without tearing. r V

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an upright edge bag support constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use, 'by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention except as claimed.

I claim:

'p'osition's,'said holder comprising: two upwardly extending members, said upwardly extending members each having a longitudinal slot therein each for receiving adiifez ent upright edge of said bag; two clamping members dis- 'pose'd one each in'said slots and each disposed 'so'asto be forced against a respective one of said flat side portions when the other side of the respective flat side portions is disposed against a side Wall of the respective slot; means for forcing said clamping members against said flat side portions responsive to a vertical movement of said clamping members; and releasable means for moving said clamping members vertically for clamping and locking said clamping members in clamping positions.

2. A holder for a flexible bag of thetype having a sealed and fiat side portion disposed in upwardly extending position, said holder comprising: an upwardly extend- .ing member for disposition alongside said flat side portion, means attached to said upwardly extending member for releasably engaging and holding said bag at' at least two points one of which is vertically spaced apart a substantial distance one above the other said two points being disposed approximately at the top and the bottom respectively of said holder, said two points being adjacent said upwardly extending member for engaging said flat sealed 'side portion of said bag, the area betweensaid two points being open and free of obstruction sufficiently to permit occupation thereof by said flat side portion, means for supporting'the opposite side of said bag to prevent undue saggingof the bag, and a base secured to the lower end of said upwardly extending member.

3. A holder for a flexible bag of the type having a sealed and flat side portion disposed in upwardly extendside portion of said bag, the area between said two points being open and free of obstruction sufliciently to permit occupation thereof by said flat side portion, said two points being disposed substantially along a normally vertical line, means for supporting the opposite side of said bag to prevent undue sagging of the bag, and a base secured to the lower end of said upwardly extending member, said base having supporting surfaces therebeneath disposed in a plane at substantially a right angle to said line between said vertically spaced apart points.

4. The combination of claim 2 in which said means for engaging and supporting at said first and second points comprises pinch clamp means having vertically elongated clamping areas including said two points for avoiding the tearing of relatively weak flexible bags filled with heavy liquids.

5. The combination of claim 2 in which said means for supporting said opposite side of said bag comprises a sec-, ond upright member disposed horizontally spaced apart from said first upright member for supporting the said opposite side of a bag and having a second bag holding means of description similar to the description in claim 2 of said first mentioned bag holding means, said second bag holding means being attached to said second upright for clamping toward said upright member for pinching said flat side portion of said bag disposed. therebetween and means for urging said clamping member toward said upright member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 85,511 Crofoot Jan. 5, 1869 1 158,849 Lemon Jan. 19, 1875 1,311,085 Mucher a- July 22, 1919 1,446,346 Hanson Feb. 20, 1923 1,479,101 Legendre Jan. 1, 1924 1,516,299 Kibler Nov. 18, 1924 1,775,797 Wolf Sept. 16, 1930 2,172,223 Ribble Sept. 5, 1939 2,275,000 Ammon Mar. 3, 1942 2,663,584

Moran Dec. 22, 1953 

